Injection molding machine

ABSTRACT

An injection molding machine to prevent a molded piece from being separated from a mold after molds are disassembled from each other includes a first mold, a second mold assembled with the first mold to form a cavity, and a binding device or a pressing device to get a molded piece held in the first mold when the first mold and the second mold are disassembled from each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional Application of prior application Ser.No. 12/397,563 filed on Mar. 4, 2009 in the United States Patent andTrademark Office, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) fromKorean Patent Application No. 2008-0033080, filed on Apr. 10, 2008 inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an injection moldingmachine, and more particularly, to an injection molding machine tosupport a molded piece when molds are disassembled from each other, inorder to prevent separation of the molded piece from the mold.

2. Description of the Related Art

An injection molding machine is a machine that produces a molded productby injecting molten resin into a cavity defined by molds and solidifyingthe resin. There are two types of injection molding machines, one typeof which is to produce a molded product through a single molding processusing a single material, and the other type of which is to produce amolded product through two or more successive molding processes usingtwo or more materials.

Specifically, a machine to produce a molded product through twosuccessive molding processes is referred to as a double injectionmolding machine. A double injection molding machine includes a firstcavity to form a first molded piece, and a second cavity to receive thefirst molded piece therein and to secondarily carry out a moldingprocess for the first molded piece. In such a double injection moldingmachine, the first molded piece formed in the first cavity is moved tothe second cavity while being positioned in the molds. Another materialis injected into the second cavity containing the first molded piece, tothereby form a double molded piece.

Because the first molded piece formed in the first cavity should beaccurately moved to the second cavity, the first molded piece should notbe separated from the mold when the molds are disassembled from eachother after the first molding process. Also, in a case of a commoninjection molding machine (not a double injection molding machine), ifpost processes (e.g., coating, coloring and trimming processes) for themolded piece should be carried out while the molded piece is kept in themolds, preventing separation of the molded piece from the mold isnecessary.

An example of a double injection molding machine to prevent separationof a molded piece from a mold when molds are disassembled from eachother is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No, 20-188896(published on Jul. 15, 2000). The disclosed double injection moldingmachine includes a first cavity formed with recesses, so thatprotrusions are formed at a first molded piece. Therefore, when moldsare disassembled from each other, the protrusions of the first moldedpiece are kept in a state of being caught by the recesses, and thus thefirst molded piece is prevented from being separated from the mold.However, because a final molded product produced by the aboveconventional injection molding machine has unnecessary protrusions,there are problems such that an additional process of eliminating theprotrusions from the molded product should be carried out and productquality is deteriorated due to marks of the protrusions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides an injection moldingmachine to prevent separation of a molded piece from a mold when moldsare disassembled from each other.

The present general inventive concept also provides an injection moldingmachine to minimize a generation of scars on a final molded productwhile having an ability to support a molded piece when molds aredisassembled from each other.

Additional aspects and/or utilities of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing an injection moldingmachine including a first mold, a second mold assembled with the firstmold to form a cavity, and at least one binding device to get a moldedpiece held in the first mold when the first mold and the second mold aredisassembled from each other, the binding device including a bindingmember movably mounted to the first mold to bind or release the moldedpiece and a driving unit mounted to the first mold to move the bindingmember back and forth.

The binding member may be moved into or away from the cavity.

The binding member may be moved in a direction toward a periphery of thefirst mold from a center of the first mold.

The binding member may include a portion defining a portion of thecavity while the first mold and the second mold are in a state of beingassembled with each other.

The driving unit may include a hydraulic cylinder.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an injection moldingmachine including a first mold, a second mold assembled with the firstmold to form a cavity, and at least one pressing device to press amolded piece so that the molded piece is held in the first mold when thefirst mold and the second mold are disassembled from each other, thepressing device including a pressing member movably mounted to thesecond mold to press or release the molded piece and at least onedriving unit mounted to the second mold to move the pressing member backand forth.

The pressing member may be moved back and forth in a direction ofassembling or disassembling the first mold and the second mold with/fromeach other.

The pressing member may keep pressing the molded piece until the firstmold and the second mold are disassembled and spaced at a first gap fromeach other, and may release the molded piece when the first mold and thesecond mold move away from each other more than the first gap.

The pressing member may include a portion defining a portion of thecavity while the first mold and the second mold are in a state of beingassembled with each other.

The pressing member may have a shape extended continuously along aperiphery of the molded piece to evenly press the periphery of themolded piece, and the at least one driving unit may include pluraldriving units arranged apart from each other in the second mold so thatthe pressing member evenly presses the molded piece.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an injection moldingmachine including a fixed mold, a movable mold spaced apart from thefixed mold, two rotatable molds movably and rotatably mounted betweenthe fixed mold and the movable mold, the two rotatable molds beingselectively assembled with the movable mold to form a first cavity andselectively assembled with the fixed mold to form a second cavity, andat least one binding device to bind a first molded piece formed in thefirst cavity so that when one of the two rotatable molds is disassembledfrom the movable mold, the first molded piece is held in one of the tworotatable molds. The binding device includes a binding member movablymounted to the two rotatable molds to bind or release the first moldedpiece, and a driving unit mounted to the two rotatable molds to move thebinding member back and forth.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an injection moldingmachine including a fixed mold, a movable mold spaced apart from thefixed mold, two rotatable molds movably and rotatably mounted betweenthe fixed mold and the movable mold, the two rotatable molds beingselectively assembled with the movable mold to form a first cavity andselectively assembled with the fixed mold to form a second cavity, and apressing device to press a first molded piece formed in the first cavityso that when one of the two rotatable molds is disassembled from themovable mold, the first molded piece is held in one of the two rotatablemolds. The pressing device includes a pressing member movably mounted tothe movable mold to press or release the first molded piece, and atleast one driving unit mounted to the movable mold to move the pressingmember back and forth.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method ofoperating an injection molding machine, the method including forming acavity by assembling a plurality of molds with each other, disassemblingthe plurality of molds from each other, and holding a molded piece inone of the molds with a pressing device when the molds are beingdisassembled and a predetermined distance between the molds is notexceeded.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method ofoperating an injection molding machine, the method comprising: forming acavity by assembling a plurality of molds with each other; disassemblingthe plurality of molds from each other; and binding a molded piece inone of the molds with a binding device while the plurality of molds arein a state of being disassembled from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the exemplary embodiments ofthe present general inventive concept will become apparent and morereadily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a disassembled state of molds ofan injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the moldsof the injection molding machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III′ in FIG. 1, whichillustrates a rotating state of first and second rotatable molds;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a IV portion in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a V portion in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a molded product produced bythe injection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a binding device of theinjection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII″ in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a pressing device of theinjection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept, which illustrates a state that a pressingmember presses a molded piece;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the pressing device of theinjection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept, which illustrates a state that the pressingforce of the pressing member on the molded piece is removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the pressing device of theinjection molding machine according to an embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an injectionmolding machine according to an embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain thepresent general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

An injection molding apparatus or machine (machine) according to anembodiment of the present general inventive concept, as illustrated inFIG. 6, can produce a double molded product 1 which includes atransparent layer 2 and a colored layer 3. The double molded product 1illustrated in FIG. 6 is used for a front case of a display apparatus(e.g., TV, monitor or the like) or a cellular phone, and has an openedcenter portion so as to expose a screen. However, a molded productproduced by the injection molding machine according to an embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept is not limited to theabove-described shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the injection molding machine adapted toproduce the double molded product 1 (FIG. 6) includes a fixed supportingplate 11, a movable supporting plate 12 spaced apart from the fixedsupporting plate 11, a rotatable supporting plate 13 provided betweenthe fixed supporting plate 11 and the movable supporting plate 12, afixed mold 14 mounted to the fixed supporting plate 11, a movable mold15 mounted to the movable supporting plate 12, and a first rotatablemold 16 and a second rotatable mold 17 respectively mounted to bothsurfaces of the rotatable supporting plate 13.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, the movable supporting plate12 and the rotatable supporting plate 13 are supported by a movementguide device, such as a rail or a guide bar, so as to be moved toward oraway from the fixed supporting plate 11 to assemble or separate themolds 14, 15, 16 and 17. A lower end portion of the rotatable supportingplate 13 is supported by a rotating device 18, and thus the rotatablesupporting plate 13 can be rotated so that a position of the firstrotatable mold 16 and a position of the second rotatable mold 17 areexchanged.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the assembling of the movable mold 15 and thefirst rotatable mold 16 or the assembling of the movable mold 15 and thesecond rotatable mold 17 forms a first cavity 21 in which thetransparent layer 2 of the double molded product 1 illustrated in FIG. 6is molded. The assembling of the first rotatable mold 16 and the fixedmold 14 or the assembling of the second rotatable mold 17 and the fixedmold 14 forms a second cavity 22 in which the colored layer 3 of thedouble molded product 1 illustrated in FIG. 6 is molded.

The first rotatable mold 16 and the second rotatable mold 17substantially have a same shape. Therefore, the positions of the firstand second rotatable molds 16 and 17 are exchanged by a rotation of therotatable supporting plate 13, and the first and second rotatable molds16 and 17 can be selectively coupled to the fixed mold 14 or the movablemold 15, thereby forming the first cavity 21 or the second cavity 22.This is because the first rotatable mold 16 and the second rotatablemold 17 have the same shape, but the fixed mold 14 and the movable mold15 have shapes different from each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the movable supporting plate 12 is mountedwith a first injection cylinder 23 to supply molten resin (transparentresin) to the first cavity 21, and the movable supporting plate 12 andthe movable mold 15 are formed with a first injection passage 25 toguide the molten resin supplied from the first injection cylinder 23 tothe first cavity 21. The first injection passage 25 includes firstdispersed injection channels 26 formed in the movable supporting plate12, and a plurality of first runner members 27 mounted in the movablemold 15 so as to be connected with the first dispersed injectionchannels 26. The first injection cylinder 23 is moved together with themovable supporting plate 12 when the movable supporting plate 12 ismoved.

The fixed supporting plate 11 is mounted with a second injectioncylinder 24 to supply molten resin (colored resin) to the second cavity22, and the fixed supporting plate 11 and the fixed mold 14 are formedwith a second injection passage 28 to guide the molten resin suppliedfrom the second injection cylinder 24 to the second cavity 22. Thesecond injection passage 28 includes second dispersed injection channels29 formed in the fixed supporting plate 11, and a plurality of secondrunner members 30 mounted in the fixed mold 14 so as to be connectedwith the second dispersed injection channels 29.

In such an injection molding machine, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when therotatable supporting plate 13 and the movable supporting plate 12 aremoved away from the fixed supporting plate 11, the second rotatable mold17 is separated from the fixed mold 14, and the movable mold 15 isseparated from the first rotatable mold 16. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 2, when the rotatable supporting plate 13 and themovable supporting plate 12 are moved toward the fixed supporting plate11, the molds 14, 15, 16 and 17 can be assembled all together. At thistime, the first cavity 21 is formed by the movable mold 15 and the firstrotatable mold 16, and the second cavity 22 is formed by the secondrotatable mold 17 and the fixed mold 14.

If molten resin (transparent resin) is injected into the first cavity 21in a state illustrated in FIG. 2, the transparent layer 2 of the doublemolded product 1 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 4. After thetransparent layer 2 is formed, the molds are disassembled from eachother. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotatable supporting plate 13 isrotated at 180 degrees, so that the positions of the first rotatablemold 16 and the second rotatable mold 17 are exchanged. The transparentlayer 2 formed in the first cavity 21 is moved to the second cavity 22while being positioned in the first rotatable mold 16. Accordingly, ifthe molds are all assembled again, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a space 22a to form the colored layer 3 (FIG. 6) is provided in the second cavity22 while the transparent layer 2 is positioned in the second cavity 22.By injecting molten resin (colored resin) into the space 22 a, asillustrated in FIG. 6, the double molded product 1, in which thetransparent layer 2 and the colored layer 3 are united, is produced.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, after the molds are all assembled, moldingoperations (injection of molten resin) with respect to the first cavity21 and the second cavity 22 are simultaneously performed. After themolds are disassembled from each other, the double molded product 1(FIG. 6) formed in the second cavity 22 is drawn out. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the first and second rotatable molds 16 and 17 are rotated sothat the positions thereof are exchanged. The transparent layer 2 formedin the first cavity 21 is rotated while being positioned in the first orsecond rotatable mold 16 or 17, and is moved to the second cavity 22.The injection molding machine can successively produce the double moldedproduct 1 illustrated in FIG. 6, through repetition of the aboveprocesses.

When the transparent layer 2 (molded piece) formed in the first cavity21 is moved to the second cavity 22 by the rotation of the first andsecond rotatable molds 16 and 17, the transparent layer 2 should not beseparated from the first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17. To achievethis, a supporter is provided at the first and second rotatable molds 16and 17 or the movable mold 15, so as to prevent separation of thetransparent layer 2 (molded piece) formed in the first cavity 21 whenthe molds are disassembled from each other.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate binding devices 40 provided at the first andsecond rotatable molds 16 and 17, as a first example of the supporter tosupport the transparent layer 2 (molded piece). Each of the bindingdevices 40 includes a binding member 41 rectilinearly movably mounted tothe first and second rotatable molds 16 and 17 to bind or release thetransparent layer 2, and a driving unit 42 mounted to the first andsecond rotatable molds 16 and 17 to move the binding member 41 back andforth. The binding devices 40, as illustrated in FIG. 7, are mounted toall corners of the first and second rotatable molds 16 and 17 so as tobind all corners of the transparent layer 2 (molded piece).

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the binding members 41 can be movedback and forth in a direction toward a periphery from a center of thefirst and second rotatable molds 16 and 17. Accordingly, the bindingmembers 41 can bind the transparent layer 2 (molded piece) by movinginto the first cavity 21, and can release the transparent layer 2 bymoving away from the first cavity 21. Also, when the movable mold 15 isassembled with the first rotatable mold 16 or the second rotatable mold17, front ends 41 a of the respective binding members 41 define thecorners of the first cavity 21. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 8,though the movable mold 15 is disassembled from the first or secondrotatable mold 16 or 17 after the transparent layer 2 is formed, thetransparent layer 2 is not separated from the first cavity 21 by thefront ends 41 a of the binding members 41 binding the transparent layer2. Further, since the front ends 41 a of the binding members 41 areadapted to define the first cavity 21 together with the molds 15 and 16,generation of scars on the molded piece can be minimized.

The driving unit 42 may be configured as a hydraulic cylinder having amovable rod 43, or an electric actuator using a solenoid. The rod 43 ofthe driving unit 42 is connected with the binding member 41. Therefore,the binding member 41 is moved back and forth by the operation of thedriving unit 42, to thereby bind or release the transparent layer 2(molded piece). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the movable mold 15 is formedwith receiving recesses 44 and 45, in which a portion of the bindingmember 41 and a portion of the driving unit 42 can be received when themolds 15 and 16 are assembled with each other.

The binding devices 40 keep binding the transparent layer 2 until thefirst and second rotatable molds 16 and 17 are rotated to exchange thepositions thereof and the transparent layer 2 formed in the first cavity21 is moved to the second cavity 22, and then release the transparentlayer 2 at a moment the first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 isassembled with the fixed mold 14. Alternatively, the binding devices 40may be set to keep binding the transparent layer 2 even after thetransparent layer 2 is moved to the second cavity 22 (FIG. 2) and thefirst or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 is assembled with the fixed mold14 (i.e., even during the molding operation in the second cavity).

FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate a pressing device 50 provided at the movablemold 15, as a second example of the supporter to support the transparentlayer 2 (molded piece). The pressing device 50 includes a pressingmember 51 rectilinearly movably mounted to the movable mold 15 to pressor release the transparent layer 2 formed in the first cavity 21, anddriving units 52 mounted to the movable mold 15 to move the pressingmember 51 back and forth.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the pressing member 51 has a shape extendedcontinuously along the periphery of the transparent layer 2 (peripheryof the first cavity) in order to evenly press the periphery of thetransparent layer 2 formed in the first cavity 21. The driving units 52are arranged apart from each other in the movable mold 15 in order forthe pressing member 51 to evenly press the transparent layer 2. Asillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of the driving units 52 may beconfigured as a hydraulic cylinder having a movable rod 53, or anelectric actuator using a solenoid. The rod 53 of each driving unit 52is connected with the pressing member 51. Therefore, the pressing member51 is moved back and forth in a direction of assembling or disassemblingthe first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 with/from the movable mold15, by the operation of the driving units 52, and thereby can press orrelease the transparent layer 2 (molded piece) formed in the firstcavity 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, while the first or second rotatable mold 16 or17 and the movable mold 15 are assembled with each other, a front end 51a of the pressing member 51 defines the periphery of the first cavity21. Though the molds are disassembled from each other, the front end 51a of the pressing member 51 keeps pressing the transparent layer 2,thereby preventing separation of the transparent layer 2 from the firstcavity 21. Further, since the front end 51 a of the pressing member 51is adapted to define the first cavity 21 together with the molds 15 and16, generation of scars on the molded piece can be minimized.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the pressing member 51 keeps pressing thetransparent layer 2 (molded piece) by the driving units 52 pushing thepressing member 51, until the first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 isdisassembled from the movable mold 15 and is spaced at a first gap (t)from the movable mold 15. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 10, thedriving units 52 pull the pressing member 51 toward the movable mold 15to release the transparent layer 2 at the moment the first or secondrotatable mold 16 or 17 and the movable mold 15 move away from eachother more than the first gap (t). This is to hold the transparent layer2 (molded piece) in the first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 by thepressing member 51 temporarily pressing the transparent layer 2 (moldedpiece) while the movable mold 15 and the first or second rotatable mold16 or 17 are disassembled from each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, even after the molds 15 and 16 aredisassembled from each other and the pressing force of the pressingmember 51 on the transparent layer 2 is removed, the transparent layer 2is not separated from the first cavity 21. This is because staticelectricity, frictional force and clamping force are exerted between thefirst or second rotatable mold 16 or 17 and the transparent layer 2, anda space between the outer surface of the transparent layer 2 and theinner surface of the first cavity 21 forms a vacuum. Accordingly, thetransparent layer 2 can be stably moved to the second cavity 22 by therotation of the first and second rotatable molds 16 and 17 while beingheld in the first or second rotatable mold 16 or 17.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an injectionmolding machine according to an embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, in operation S122, acavity 21 is formed by assembling a plurality of molds 15 and 16 witheach other. In operation S124, the plurality of molds 15 and 16 aredisassembled from each other. In operation S126, a molded piece 2 isheld in one of the molds with a pressing device 50 when the molds 15 and16 are being disassembled and a predetermined distance t between themolds 15 and 16 is not exceeded.

Although it has been described that the binding device 40 or thepressing device 50 is applied to the double injection molding machine asillustrated in FIG. 1, the binding device 40 or the pressing device 50can also be applied to a general injection molding machine including afirst mold and a second mold, which are assembled or disassembledwith/from each other, to produce a molded product through a singlemolding process.

As apparent from the above description, the injection molding machineaccording to various embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept can prevent separation of the molded piece from the mold afterthe molds are disassembled from each other, because the molded piece isbound by the binding device or pressed by the pressing device when themolds are disassembled from each other. Accordingly, post processes(e.g., coating process of the molded piece, secondary injection moldingprocess, etc.) can be stably carried out.

Further, when the molds are in a state of being assembled with eachother, a portion of the binding member binding the molded piece or aportion of the pressing member pressing the molded piece defines thecavity together with the molds. Accordingly, generation of scars on afinal molded product can be minimized.

Although embodiments of the present general inventive concept have beenillustrated and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departingfrom the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, thescope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

1. An injection molding machine, comprising: a first mold; a second moldassembled with the first mold to form a cavity; and at least one bindingdevice to get a molded piece held in the first mold when the first moldand the second mold are disassembled from each other, the binding deviceincluding a binding member movably mounted to the first mold to bind orrelease the molded piece and a driving unit mounted to the first mold tomove the binding member back and forth.
 2. The injection molding machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the binding member is moved into or awayfrom the cavity.
 3. The injection molding machine according to claim 1,wherein the binding member is moved in a direction toward a periphery ofthe first mold from a center of the first mold.
 4. The injection moldingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the binding member comprises: aportion defining a portion of the cavity while the first mold and thesecond mold are in a state of being assembled with each other.
 5. Theinjection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the driving unitcomprises: a hydraulic cylinder.
 6. An injection molding machine,comprising: a fixed mold; a movable mold spaced apart from the fixedmold; two rotatable molds movably and rotatably mounted between thefixed mold and the movable mold, the two rotatable molds beingselectively assembled with the movable mold to form a first cavity andselectively assembled with the fixed mold to form a second cavity; andat least one binding device to bind a first molded piece formed in thefirst cavity so that when one of the two rotatable molds is disassembledfrom the movable mold, the first molded piece is held in one of the tworotatable molds, wherein the binding device includes a binding membermovably mounted to the two rotatable molds to bind or release the firstmolded piece, and a driving unit mounted to the two rotatable molds tomove the binding member back and forth.
 7. The injection molding machineaccording to claim 6, wherein the binding member is moved back and forthin a direction toward peripheries of the two rotatable molds fromcenters of the two rotatable molds.
 8. The injection molding machineaccording to claim 6, wherein the binding member comprises: a portiondefining a portion of the first cavity while one of the two rotatablemolds and the movable mold are in a state of being assembled with eachother.
 9. A method of operating an injection molding machine, the methodcomprising: forming a cavity by assembling a plurality of molds witheach other; disassembling the plurality of molds from each other; andbinding a molded piece in one of the molds with a binding device whilethe plurality of molds are in a state of being disassembled from eachother.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cavity includesa first cavity and a second cavity, and the binding device includes abinding member to bind a first molded piece formed in the first cavityuntil the first molded piece moves to the second cavity.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the binding device includes a bindingmember to define corners of the cavity by moving into the cavity.